Southeastern Guide Dog Review

How a Guide Dog Saved a Life on 9/11

            September 11, 2001, was running smoothly like every other morning for Michael Hingson on the seventy-eighth floor of the World Trade Centers in New York City, New York. At 8:46 AM Roselle, Michael’s guide dog was snoozing underneath his desk while he was up grabbing some letterhead from a cabinet. Suddenly, they both heard a loud boom. This terrifying boom they heard was the first hijacked plane crashing into the building above. Staying calm, Michael told Roselle, “forward.” Together, they began to make their way down the staircase through smoke, noise, and confusion. Although Michael was slightly worried and frazzled, Roselle kept calm and led Michael down 1,463 stairs to safety (Hingson).

            Teamwork is crucial when it comes to any situation in life. Together, Roselle and Michael worked as a team, held back all panic and trusted and encouraged each other every step of the way that frightening morning. To visually impaired citizens, guide dogs are their only pair of eyes. The amount of love, compassion, and trust in such relationship is a cherished gift.

What is Southeastern Guide Dogs?

Located in Palmetto, Florida, Southeastern Guide Dogs focuses on raising and training guide dogs to become lifelong partners for visually impaired individuals. Southeastern Guide Dogs was founded in 1982 and has been providing guide dogs for over 30 years (Southeastern Guide Dogs). This organization is funded through contributions, gifts, and grants 98.8% of the time. The other 1.1% is raised through federal funding (“Charity Rating”). More than 7,500 people are active donors and Southeastern Guide Dogs has more than 650 core volunteers (Southeastern Guide Dogs). Southeastern Guide Dogs is only one of twelve accredited guide dog schools in the United States. Over the past few years, this organization has seen a 107% increase in annual revenue and support (Nonprofit of the Year).

            At the 35-acre park-like Palmetto campus, there are three kennels and a 1.5 mile Freedom Walk trail of paved walkways and obstacles for guide dog training (“Dogs for Dignity”). Likewise, the campus has ten student rooms for the students to live in while going through training with their guide dog. Furthermore, three breeds of dogs are bred in the organization’s own breeding colony: Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Goldadors and more than 150 dogs are bred annually (“Dog for Dignity”). So far more than 2,800 dogs have been deployed to citizens in need for absolutely no cost (Southeastern Guide Dogs).  The cost of breeding, raising, and training, placing, and servicing a single guide dog team is $60,000 (“Dogs for Dignity”).  Southeastern Guide Dogs is able to provide these services for free from the generous amounts of private donations received yearly.

Volunteer Opportunities 

       All dogs bred are initially trained to become guide dogs, but if they do not pass training or are a better fit for another profession, they undergo a “career change” and become either canine connection dogs, public service dogs, or ambassador dogs (Southeastern Guide Dogs). Moreover, if interested in volunteering at Southeastern Guide Dogs, all one needs to do is apply.
     There are numerous areas for volunteers to interact with dogs including activities such as Puppy Hugging and Walking a Dog. During a session of Puppy Hugging, volunteers get to spend half-hour intervals interacting with 12-week old puppies (Southeastern Guide Dogs). At this stage, the puppies are beginning their training as guide dogs and are in the interaction stage where they learn about new sights, smells, and touches. Another volunteer opportunity is Walking a Dog. These dogs are a little older and volunteers have the opportunity to walk these dogs in training and practice commands with them that they will eventuality use with their lifelong partners. The last volunteer opportunity is Puppy Raising.      During Puppy Raising, volunteers get to raise a puppy and bring them everywhere. The volunteer will take the puppy shopping, out to dinner, to work and even on trips. This allows the puppy to get the real-world experience it needs to be able to work with a visually impaired individual. At 14-20 months, the volunteer returns the puppy to campus – one of the hardest goodbyes, so it can continue its puppy training (Southeastern Guide Dogs). Moreover, Southeastern Guide Dogs has a very high success rate. Charity Navigator rated this organization a 68.85/70, the highest ranking guide dog school (“Charity Rating”).

How Southeastern Evaluates Their Success

            Southeastern Guide Dogs evaluates their success by checking in and following up with their students who have graduated from the program. Every so often, this organization will call or if close enough, will visit the graduate’s house and monitor the progress of the partnership. Many times, the visitor will frequently hear success stories from the graduate as well (Southeastern Guide Dogs).

           

Review of Southeastern Guide Dogs

     Southeastern Guide Dogs, a highly ranked accredited guide dog school in the nation, is known for their volunteer opportunities, various programs offered to the community and their success at forming partnerships between visually impaired citizens and their guide dogs. Although this organization depends mostly on contributions and donations for funding, they are a highly successful nonprofit organization with a growth rate of 17.9% 

Volunteer Evaluation

      Personally, I am highly interested in this organization because I am an animal lover and have a passion for organizations that incorporate helping out individuals with the assistance of animals. Over Spring Break when I was in Florida, I visited the campus in Palmetto and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The staff was so generous and I was able to Walk a Dog and Puppy Hug when I volunteered. While walking around, I saw visually impaired citizens training with their guide dogs and it was such a beautiful sight to see. The amount of love, compassion, and chemistry their partnership cherishes is amazing. This organization has such a heart and is hands down one of the most heartfelt non-profit organizations I know of.

     After my half hour session of Puppy Hugging, a volunteer sat down and talked with my family and me more in depth about the organization. She explained to us the process which visually impaired citizens undergo to apply for a guide dog, the selection process, and their follow-up appointments to make sure the partnership is going well after they graduate from the training program.

     After talking to the volunteer and hearing about her personal experiences, I have strongly concluded that this is an effective organization because nearly all citizens who want to undergo the process of getting a guide dog are accepted into the program. For how much it costs to raise a single dog and to pay absolutely nothing to get a guide dog shows that Southeastern Guide Dogs knows how to manage money well and that their primary goal is to help citizens rather than make a high income.

No Kill Policy

      Additionally, I believe that Southeastern Guide Dogs is an effective organization because no dog is put to waste and will help society out in one way or another whether it be as a guide dog, a public service dog or an ambassador dog. Under no circumstances will Southeastern Guide Dogs ever kill any of their dogs. They are absolutely no kill and all dogs will help someone out in society in some way.

Good Use of Finances

      Furthermore, statistics from Charity Navigator show that Southeastern Guide Dogs uses their money wisely and supports the point that this organization uses their donations and contributions from the public effectively. Compared to Southeastern Guide Dogs, Puppies Behind Bars was the second highest rating nonprofit organization for guide dogs in the nation. Their growth rate is 7.3% whereas Southeastern Guide Dogs was 17.9%. Puppies Behind Bars also pays their president more (11%) whereas Titus Herman, the CEO of Southeastern Guide Dogs, makes $180,510, only 3.08% of the organization’s revenue. I believe this is a great example of why Southeastern Guide Dog is such an effective organization. The money they earn and raise through contributions and donations goes directly towards the cost of raising a guide dog rather than paying the CEO.

Important Help to Blind

       Don Olinger, a graduate from Southeastern Guide Dogs, lost his vision and all hope when he was put into a nursing home at the young age of 52. After going through the program at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Olinger restored all hope and faith when he got his guide dog. Ralphie was not only his eyes but also his traveling companion, coach, director, entertainment, alarm clock and timekeeper.
     With the help of Southeastern Guide Dogs, Don now sees a future of new adventures and much hope (Southeastern Guide Dog). After spending a morning at the campus and researching further into depth, I want to become more involved with this organization. When I graduate college I would love to raise a puppy and know that in the long run, I am helping train a guide dog for a cherished lifelong partnership.

How to Support Southeastern Guide Dogs

Supporting such organizations can be done in two ways, either with time or money. If in Florida, students can go to the campus and volunteer Puppy Hugging or Walking a Dog. If students are interested in Puppy Raising, all they need to do is take a self-assessment quiz to see if puppy raising is right for them and then fill out an application. If unable to visit the campus or puppy raise, donations are more than welcome also. Money donations can be done online, either one-time or on a monthly basis. Naming a Puppy is also a fun opportunity. For a certain donation, volunteers are able to name a newly bred puppy and leave a lasting impression.

       Southeastern Guide Dogs truly knows how to touch people’s hearts of all ages and works every day at connecting the community with many ways of getting involved. In the graduation ceremony program, there is a touching poem that reflects this wholehearted organization’s passion and heart. It reads: You love me; I’ll love you. You walk with me; I’ll walk with you. You lead me and I will follow, trusting you. We’ll move forward together (“Vets Helping Heroes”).

How Important are Guide Dogs?

       In the United States today, there are around 6 million blind citizens (National Federation of the Blind). Although there are many organizations that raise and train guide dogs, the cost and time it takes to do so are copious. Even though many visually impaired citizens choose to own a guide dog for more independence, others choose options besides a guide dog to get them through life. Southeastern Guide Dogs is a non-profit organization that deals with preparing guide dogs as lifelong companions for the visually impaired if they choose that route.

What Problems to Blind People Face?

       The mission of Southeastern Guide Dogs is to provide a guide dog to a visually impaired individual and to nurture a loving and lifelong partnership between the two (Southeastern Guide Dogs). The problem that this heartfelt organization is trying to solve is providing a way for visually impaired citizens to become more independent with the assistance of a guide dog. Everyday difficulties blind people face include: Avoiding hazardous edges such as doors left opened or ditches, the inability to recognize people when they enter a room and more seriously, symbolic issues such as interpreting daily pictures, drawings, and signs (National Federation of the Blind).
     Although many blind citizens are capable of having jobs, only about 30% hold a secure job.  The reasons why it is difficult for visually impaired citizens to maintain jobs include not having specialized skills necessary for the job and being discriminated because many employers do not think blind people are as productive as sighted citizens (National Federation of the Blind). This problem strongly impacts families and those close to visually impaired citizens as well as the visually impaired citizens themselves. Many people think guide dogs are beneficial for citizens but others think the visually impaired are better off without guide dogs.

How Guide Dogs Help the Blind Psychologically

       Guide dogs are valuable as lifelong partners for visually impaired citizens and those suffering physiological disorders because they have psychological, social and physiological benefits. By having a companion animal constantly by their sides, the visually impaired had fewer rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness (Lee). Furthermore, by owning a guide dog and having reduced stress and a healthier support and security system, owners of guide dogs have better cardiovascular benefits from less stress and worrying (Rossignol). Lastly with a guide dog, over a third of visually impaired citizens felt the quality of their social life improved and they now have better interactions with others (Rossignol).

Practical Assistance Guide Dogs Provide

      Guide dogs are not only beneficial psychologically, socially and physiologically but also because they help blind people live more normal lives. Blind people face many problems in the social world, physiological world, and symbolic world. These everyday difficulties make others have lower perceptions and standards of them. With the assistance of a guide dog, visually impaired citizens can live a more normal life because they are able to go about doing everyday activities more easily. Guide dogs can help blind people live more ordinary lives because they are trained strictly to warn the visually impaired of danger, and lead them exactly where they have to go (National Federation of the Blind). Not only are guide dogs a great set of eyes but an even better companion.

Disadvantages of Guide Dogs

        Although many believe guide dogs are a practical choice, others believe a guide dog is more of a problem than an overall benefit. The reasons why guide dogs may be more of a hassle rather than a benefit include the inconvenience of owning a dog, unwanted attention from people, and grief or loss when the dog retires, gets ill or passes away (Rossignol). As many know, the financial cost of having a pet is a lot of money. Other reasons why people do not enjoy having dogs is because of the shedding situation, cleaning up after the pet, and finding arrangements while traveling if unable to travel with the dog. Moreover, while having a guide dog, there will be attention regardless of where you go. This unwanted attention may cause stress and anxiety if the individual with the guide dog is not comfortable (Rossignol). Lastly, after having a guide dog for many years, the grieving process when the dog gets ill or passes away may be too much for the individual to handle. Depending on the person, guide dogs are not the option for everyone.

Alternatives to Guide Dogs

      For the visually impaired citizens who do not believe a guide dog is a good decision, there are alternative options they could go about instead. As an alternative to a guide dog, the visually impaired citizens can use a white cane. With a white cane, the visually impaired will have the same rights as a sighted person for any public facility. Also, all drivers are to yield to blind people as soon as they see the extended white cane. These are all provisions of the White Cane Law (National Federation of the Blind). Finally, other options for blind people besides a white cane include other gadgets for around the house including: talking thermometers, watches and clocks and medical devices (National Federation of the Blind). All in all, for those who do not believe guide dogs are the option, there are many different gadgets that can help a blind person live a more normal life.

My Conclusion

      Many times, I feel organizations benefitting and supporting PTSD and visually impaired citizens get overlook by those supporting worldwide issues such as abuse or poverty. It is essential for students to get involved with organizations like Southeastern Guide Dogs because these organizations have reasonable and doable goals. Many nonprofit organizations are trying to end world hunger or provide clean water to third world countries which takes a lot of time and money. With an organization like Southeastern Guide Dogs, all students need to do is give a couple hours a week volunteering. During these few hours, students will help familiarize these puppies with natural surroundings which will help the dogs in their training to become guide dogs.

     With the help of volunteers, the training process can move quicker and guide dogs can be given to visually impaired citizens sooner. Southeastern Guide Dogs is a passionate non-profit near and dear to my heart. This organization does so much with the community and I think it is a great organization to donate both money and time to. The passion and high spirits this organization has and the impact they make in the community is truly amazing.